Methods of making bis-tridentate carbene complexes of ruthenium and osmium

ABSTRACT

Novel polydentate carbene complexes of ruthenium and formulations containing the same are provided. Organic light emitting device containing the novel polydentate carbene complexes of ruthenium in an emissive layer are also provided. The novel polydentate carbene complexes of ruthenium may be particularly useful in OLEDs to provide devices having improved performance.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/033,160, filed Feb. 23, 2011, the disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.

PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

The claimed invention was made by, on behalf of, and/or in connection with one or more of the following parties to a joint university corporation research agreement: Regents of the University of Michigan, Princeton University, The University of Southern California, and the Universal Display Corporation. The agreement was in effect on and before the date the claimed invention was made, and the claimed invention was made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of the agreement.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to methods of making carbene complexes, and more specifically, to methods of making bis-tridentate complexes of ruthenium and osmium.

BACKGROUND

Opto-electronic devices that make use of organic materials are becoming increasingly desirable for a number of reasons. Many of the materials used to make such devices are relatively inexpensive, so organic opto-electronic devices have the potential for cost advantages over inorganic devices. In addition, the inherent properties of organic materials, such as their flexibility, may make them well suited for particular applications such as fabrication on a flexible substrate. Examples of organic opto-electronic devices include organic light emitting devices (OLEDs), organic phototransistors, organic photovoltaic cells, and organic photodetectors. For OLEDs, the organic materials may have performance advantages over conventional materials. For example, the wavelength at which an organic emissive layer emits light may generally be readily tuned with appropriate dopants.

OLEDs make use of thin organic films that emit light when voltage is applied across the device. OLEDs are becoming an increasingly interesting technology for use in applications such as flat panel displays, illumination, and backlighting. Several OLED materials and configurations are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,844,363, 6,303,238, and 5,707,745, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

One application for phosphorescent emissive molecules is a full color display. Industry standards for such a display call for pixels adapted to emit particular colors, referred to as “saturated” colors. In particular, these standards call for saturated red, green, and blue pixels. Color may be measured using CIE coordinates, which are well known to the art.

One example of a green emissive molecule is tris(2-phenylpyridine) iridium, denoted Ir(ppy)₃, which has the following structure:

In this, and later figures herein, we depict the dative bond from nitrogen to metal (here, Ir) as a straight line.

As used herein, the term “organic” includes polymeric materials as well as small molecule organic materials that may be used to fabricate organic opto-electronic devices. “Small molecule” refers to any organic material that is not a polymer, and “small molecules” may actually be quite large. Small molecules may include repeat units in some circumstances. For example, using a long chain alkyl group as a substituent does not remove a molecule from the “small molecule” class. Small molecules may also be incorporated into polymers, for example as a pendent group on a polymer backbone or as a part of the backbone. Small molecules may also serve as the core moiety of a dendrimer, which consists of a series of chemical shells built on the core moiety. The core moiety of a dendrimer may be a fluorescent or phosphorescent small molecule emitter. A dendrimer may be a “small molecule,” and it is believed that all dendrimers currently used in the field of OLEDs are small molecules.

As used herein, “top” means furthest away from the substrate, while “bottom” means closest to the substrate. Where a first layer is described as “disposed over” a second layer, the first layer is disposed further away from substrate. There may be other layers between the first and second layer, unless it is specified that the first layer is “in contact with” the second layer. For example, a cathode may be described as “disposed over” an anode, even though there are various organic layers in between.

As used herein, “solution processible” means capable of being dissolved, dispersed, or transported in and/or deposited from a liquid medium, either in solution or suspension form.

A ligand may be referred to as “photoactive” when it is believed that the ligand directly contributes to the photoactive properties of an emissive material. A ligand may be referred to as “ancillary” when it is believed that the ligand does not contribute to the photoactive properties of an emissive material, although an ancillary ligand may alter the properties of a photoactive ligand.

As used herein, and as would be generally understood by one skilled in the art, a first “Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital” (HOMO) or “Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital” (LUMO) energy level is “greater than” or “higher than” a second HOMO or LUMO energy level if the first energy level is closer to the vacuum energy level. Since ionization potentials (IP) are measured as a negative energy relative to a vacuum level, a higher HOMO energy level corresponds to an IP having a smaller absolute value (an IP that is less negative). Similarly, a higher LUMO energy level corresponds to an electron affinity (EA) having a smaller absolute value (an EA that is less negative). On a conventional energy level diagram, with the vacuum level at the top, the LUMO energy level of a material is higher than the HOMO energy level of the same material. A “higher” HOMO or LUMO energy level appears closer to the top of such a diagram than a “lower” HOMO or LUMO energy level.

As used herein, and as would be generally understood by one skilled in the art, a first work function is “greater than” or “higher than” a second work function if the first work function has a higher absolute value. Because work functions are generally measured as negative numbers relative to vacuum level, this means that a “higher” work function is more negative. On a conventional energy level diagram, with the vacuum level at the top, a “higher” work function is illustrated as further away from the vacuum level in the downward direction. Thus, the definitions of HOMO and LUMO energy levels follow a different convention than work functions.

More details on OLEDs, and the definitions described above, can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 7,279,704, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method of making a metal complex having the formula I is provided.

Q₁-M-Q₂  Formula I

The method comprises mixing a salt of formula MX₂L_(n). with precursors of carbenes Q₁ and Q₂, wherein Q₁ and Q₂ are independently selected from a compound of formula II,

a carbene forming agent, solvent, and heating the reaction mixture. Q₁ and Q₂ can be the same or different.

In the metal salt MX₂L_(n), M is a second or third row transition metal in the +2 oxidation state, X is a halogen, L is a ligand coordinated to M selected from the group consisting of DMSO, THF, and CH₃CN, and n is 2 to 4.

Rings A and B are independently selected from the group consisting of: (a) a 5-membered heterocyclic group, (b) an 8- to 12-membered bicyclic group having from 0 to 6 ring heteroatoms, (c) an 11- to 18-membered tricyclic group having from 0 to 7 ring heteroatoms, (d) an 11- to 14-membered fused tricyclic group having from 0 to 6 ring heteroatoms, and (e) an 14- to 18-membered fused tetracyclic group having from 0 to 7 ring heteroatoms. Ring A and/or ring B may form a salt, a is 0 to 4, and b is 0 to 4.

X¹ is selected from C—R¹ and N, X² is selected from C—R² and N, and X³ is selected from C—R³ and N.

In one aspect, R¹ and R², or R² and R³ are linked to form a 5- or 6-membered cyclic group, an 8- to 10-membered fused bicyclic group, an 11- to 14-membered fused tricyclic group, which may be optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from hydrogen, deuterium, halide, alkyl, cycloalkyl, heteroalkyl, arylalkyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, amino, silyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, heteroalkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, acyl, carbonyl, carboxylic acids, ester, nitrile, isonitrile, sulfanyl, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, phosphino, and combinations thereof;

In one aspect, R¹ and an R^(A) are linked to form a 5- or 6-membered cyclic group, or an 8- to 10-membered fused bicyclic group.

In one aspect, R³ and an R^(B) are linked to form a 5- or 6-membered cyclic group, or an 8- to 10-membered fused bicyclic group.

The groups R^(A), R^(B), R¹, R², R³, and R′ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, deuterium, halide, alkyl, cycloalkyl, heteroalkyl, arylalkyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, amino, silyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, heteroalkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, acyl, carbonyl, carboxylic acids, ester, nitrile, isonitrile, sulfanyl, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, phosphino, and combinations thereof.

In one aspect, M is ruthenium or osmium.

In one aspect, the carbene forming agent is selected from silver(I) oxide and copper(I) alkoxide. In one aspect, the copper(I) alkoxide is copper(I) tert-butoxide.

In one aspect, the metal salt has the formula RuX₂(DMSO)₄. In one aspect, the metal salt has the formula RuCl₂(DMSO)₄.

In one aspect, the metal salt has the formula OsX₂(DMSO)₄. In one aspect, the metal salt has the formula RuCl₂(DMSO)₄.

In one aspect, the solvent comprises a polar solvent. In one aspect, the polar solvent comprises an alcohol. In one aspect, the alcohol is selected from the group consisting of 2-methoxyethanol, 2-ethoxyethanol, and mixtures thereof.

In one aspect, the precursors of carbenes Q₁ and Q₂ are independently selected from a compound of formula III:

In the compound of formula III, the dashed line represents an optional bond, X⁴ is selected from N—R′, O, and S, X⁵ is selected from N—R′, O, and S, and A is a counterion.

Specific, non-limiting examples of carbene precursors are provided. In one aspect, the carbene precursors are selected from the group consisting of Compound 1-Compound 75.

Also provided are ruthenium carbene complexes selected from the group consisting of Compound 76-Compound 82.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an organic light emitting device.

FIG. 2 shows an inverted organic light emitting device that does not have a separate electron transport layer.

FIG. 3 shows the general structure of the carbene precursors that can be reacted with osmium and ruthenium according to the provided method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Generally, an OLED comprises at least one organic layer disposed between and electrically connected to an anode and a cathode. When a current is applied, the anode injects holes and the cathode injects electrons into the organic layer(s). The injected holes and electrons each migrate toward the oppositely charged electrode. When an electron and hole localize on the same molecule, an “exciton,” which is a localized electron-hole pair having an excited energy state, is formed. Light is emitted when the exciton relaxes via a photoemissive mechanism. In some cases, the exciton may be localized on an excimer or an exciplex. Non-radiative mechanisms, such as thermal relaxation, may also occur, but are generally considered undesirable.

The initial OLEDs used emissive molecules that emitted light from their singlet states (“fluorescence”) as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,769,292, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. Fluorescent emission generally occurs in a time frame of less than 10 nanoseconds.

More recently, OLEDs having emissive materials that emit light from triplet states (“phosphorescence”) have been demonstrated. Baldo et al., “Highly Efficient Phosphorescent Emission from Organic Electroluminescent Devices,” Nature, vol. 395, 151-154, 1998; (“Baldo-I”) and Baldo et al., “Very high-efficiency green organic light-emitting devices based on electrophosphorescence,” Appl. Phys. Lett., vol. 75, No. 3, 4-6 (1999) (“Baldo-II”), which are incorporated by reference in their entireties. Phosphorescence is described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 7,279,704 at cols. 5-6, which are incorporated by reference.

FIG. 1 shows an organic light emitting device 100. The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. Device 100 may include a substrate 110, an anode 115, a hole injection layer 120, a hole transport layer 125, an electron blocking layer 130, an emissive layer 135, a hole blocking layer 140, an electron transport layer 145, an electron injection layer 150, a protective layer 155, and a cathode 160. Cathode 160 is a compound cathode having a first conductive layer 162 and a second conductive layer 164. Device 100 may be fabricated by depositing the layers described, in order. The properties and functions of these various layers, as well as example materials, are described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 7,279,704 at cols. 6-10, which are incorporated by reference.

More examples for each of these layers are available. For example, a flexible and transparent substrate-anode combination is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,844,363, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. An example of a p-doped hole transport layer is m-MIDATA doped with F.sub.4-TCNQ at a molar ratio of 50:1, as disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0230980, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. Examples of emissive and host materials are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,303,238 to Thompson et al., which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. An example of an n-doped electron transport layer is BPhen doped with Li at a molar ratio of 1:1, as disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0230980, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,703,436 and 5,707,745, which are incorporated by reference in their entireties, disclose examples of cathodes including compound cathodes having a thin layer of metal such as Mg:Ag with an overlying transparent, electrically-conductive, sputter-deposited ITO layer. The theory and use of blocking layers is described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,097,147 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0230980, which are incorporated by reference in their entireties. Examples of injection layers are provided in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0174116, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. A description of protective layers may be found in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0174116, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIG. 2 shows an inverted OLED 200. The device includes a substrate 210, a cathode 215, an emissive layer 220, a hole transport layer 225, and an anode 230. Device 200 may be fabricated by depositing the layers described, in order. Because the most common OLED configuration has a cathode disposed over the anode, and device 200 has cathode 215 disposed under anode 230, device 200 may be referred to as an “inverted” OLED. Materials similar to those described with respect to device 100 may be used in the corresponding layers of device 200. FIG. 2 provides one example of how some layers may be omitted from the structure of device 100.

The simple layered structure illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is provided by way of non-limiting example, and it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be used in connection with a wide variety of other structures. The specific materials and structures described are exemplary in nature, and other materials and structures may be used. Functional OLEDs may be achieved by combining the various layers described in different ways, or layers may be omitted entirely, based on design, performance, and cost factors. Other layers not specifically described may also be included. Materials other than those specifically described may be used. Although many of the examples provided herein describe various layers as comprising a single material, it is understood that combinations of materials, such as a mixture of host and dopant, or more generally a mixture, may be used. Also, the layers may have various sublayers. The names given to the various layers herein are not intended to be strictly limiting. For example, in device 200, hole transport layer 225 transports holes and injects holes into emissive layer 220, and may be described as a hole transport layer or a hole injection layer. In one embodiment, an OLED may be described as having an “organic layer” disposed between a cathode and an anode. This organic layer may comprise a single layer, or may further comprise multiple layers of different organic materials as described, for example, with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2.

Structures and materials not specifically described may also be used, such as OLEDs comprised of polymeric materials (PLEDs) such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,190 to Friend et al., which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. By way of further example, OLEDs having a single organic layer may be used. OLEDs may be stacked, for example as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,745 to Forrest et al, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. The OLED structure may deviate from the simple layered structure illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. For example, the substrate may include an angled reflective surface to improve out-coupling, such as a mesa structure as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,091,195 to Forrest et al., and/or a pit structure as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,834,893 to Bulovic et al., which are incorporated by reference in their entireties.

Unless otherwise specified, any of the layers of the various embodiments may be deposited by any suitable method. For the organic layers, preferred methods include thermal evaporation, ink-jet, such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,013,982 and 6,087,196, which are incorporated by reference in their entireties, organic vapor phase deposition (OVPD), such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,337,102 to Forrest et al., which is incorporated by reference in its entirety, and deposition by organic vapor jet printing (OVJP), such as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/233,470, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. Other suitable deposition methods include spin coating and other solution based processes. Solution based processes are preferably carried out in nitrogen or an inert atmosphere. For the other layers, preferred methods include thermal evaporation. Preferred patterning methods include deposition through a mask, cold welding such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,294,398 and 6,468,819, which are incorporated by reference in their entireties, and patterning associated with some of the deposition methods such as ink-jet and OVJD. Other methods may also be used. The materials to be deposited may be modified to make them compatible with a particular deposition method. For example, substituents such as alkyl and aryl groups, branched or unbranched, and preferably containing at least 3 carbons, may be used in small molecules to enhance their ability to undergo solution processing. Substituents having 20 carbons or more may be used, and 3-20 carbons is a preferred range. Materials with asymmetric structures may have better solution processibility than those having symmetric structures, because asymmetric materials may have a lower tendency to recrystallize Dendrimer substituents may be used to enhance the ability of small molecules to undergo solution processing.

Devices fabricated in accordance with embodiments of the invention may be incorporated into a wide variety of consumer products, including flat panel displays, computer monitors, televisions, billboards, lights for interior or exterior illumination and/or signaling, heads up displays, fully transparent displays, flexible displays, laser printers, telephones, cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), laptop computers, digital cameras, camcorders, viewfinders, micro-displays, vehicles, a large area wall, theater or stadium screen, or a sign. Various control mechanisms may be used to control devices fabricated in accordance with the present invention, including passive matrix and active matrix. Many of the devices are intended for use in a temperature range comfortable to humans, such as 18 degrees C. to 30 degrees C., and more preferably at room temperature (20-25 degrees C.).

The materials and structures described herein may have applications in devices other than OLEDs. For example, other optoelectronic devices such as organic solar cells and organic photodetectors may employ the materials and structures. More generally, organic devices, such as organic transistors, may employ the materials and structures.

The terms halo, halogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylkyl, heterocyclic group, aryl, aromatic group, and heteroaryl are known to the art, and are defined in U.S. Pat. No. 7,279,704 at cols. 31-32, which are incorporated herein by reference.

Bis-tridentate carbene complexes of osmium and ruthenium complexes have unique properties in OLED applications, including extremely narrow line widths and short excited state lifetimes. However, the synthesis of these types of compounds has been problematic due to the low yield in the final step of complex formation, i.e. formation of the osmium or ruthenium carbene complex. Therefore, because of the desirability of these compounds for OLED applications, and the need for higher yields, a new method was needed to prepare compounds of formula I.

In a previous patent publication, WO2009046266, incorporated herein by reference, only a low 2-5% yield was obtained for the synthesis of a bis-tridentate osmium carbene complex. One of the challenges in synthesizing bis-tridentate carbene complexes of ruthenium and osmium in good yield is believed to stem from the difficulty in simultaneously activating the central aryl C—H bond along with the two N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)C—H bonds in a single ligand. Since two deprotonations and a concurrent C—H activation are required, there have been limited examples of these complexes in the literature.

This difficulty has now been overcome by using a novel synthetic method to obtain the corresponding bis-tridentate carbene complexes in good yields. Table 1 illustrates various osmium metal salts used in the synthesis of bis-tridentate-osmium carbene complexes and using compound 35 and compound 75 as the carbene precursor. In one embodiment, the osmium or ruthenium halides in the +2 oxidation state are complexed with DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide), e.g. OsCl₂(DMSO)₄, RuCl₂(DMSO)₄.

Without being bound by theory, it is believed that the relative lability of the DMSO ligands allows for their facile displacement, and the subsequent complexation of the metal center with the carbene ligands provides the corresponding bis-tridentate osmium or ruthenium carbene complexes in good yield. For example, the reaction of OsCl₂(DMSO)₄ with silver oxide, and compound 35 as carbene precursor in 2-ethoxyethanol provided the corresponding osmium complex in 34% yield. An analogous reaction using RuCl₂(DMSO)₄ and compound 33 as the carbene precursor provided the corresponding ruthenium complex in 46% yield. Thus, other solvates of osmium(II) and ruthenium(II) halides are expected to be useful. In one embodiment, THF (tetrahydrofuran) and CH₃CN solvates of osmium(II) and ruthenium(II) halides can be used. In comparison to OsCl₂(DMSO)₄, the other osmium complexes resulted in significantly lower yields.

TABLE 1 Effect of Metal Precursor on Yield of Bis-tridentate Carbene Complexes Using Compounds 35 and 75 as Carbene Precursor Method in Deprotonation Agent Ligation Experimental of NHC C—H bond Os Precursor Yield (%) Section Ag₂O OsCl₂(DMSO)₄ 34 A Ag₂O OsCl₂(PPh₃)₃ 4 B K₂CO₃ OsH₆((i-Pr)₃)₂ 12 C Ag₂O [OsCl₂(benzene)]₂ 4 D Ag₂O Os₃(CO)₁₂ No product detected

NHC derivatives that contain benzothiazole (i.e. N,S carbenes) and benzoxazole (i.e. N,O carbenes) functionality tend to be less stable than the corresponding imidazole or benzimidazole (i.e. N,N carbene) derivatives. Unlike N-substituted N,N carbenes, the carbene center in N,S and N,O carbenes is less sterically protected because the oxygen or sulfur atoms in these carbene derivatives cannot be substituted with, for example, an alkyl or aryl group. It was observed that synthesis of N,S and N,O containing carbene precursors did not proceed using silver oxide, and another method had to be developed. It was surprisingly discovered that a combination of copper(I) chloride and an alkali metal alkoxide as the carbene forming agent, instead of silver(I) oxide, allowed for the synthesis of N,S and N,O containing carbene complexes of osmium and ruthenium. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that a mixture of copper(I) chloride and an alkali metal alkoxide generates a reactive copper(I) alkoxide species. In one embodiment, the carbene forming agent is copper(I) alkoxide. In one embodiment the carbene forming agent is copper(I) tert-butoxide. In one embodiment, the method comprises using copper(I) chloride an alkali metal tert-butoxide as carbene forming agent, a N,S or N,O carbene precursor, and a suitable osmium or ruthenium metal salt to provide the N,S or N,O bis-tridentate carbene complexes described herein. The use of copper(I) chloride an alkali metal alkoxide is believed to be novel.

Accordingly, a method of making a metal complex having the formula I is provided.

Q₁-M-Q₂  Formula I

The method comprises mixing a salt of formula MX₂L_(n) with precursors of carbenes Q₁ and Q₂, wherein Q₁ and Q₂ selected from a compound of formula II, which may be the same or different

a carbene forming agent, solvent, and heating the reaction mixture. Compounds of formula I are believed to be useful materials in OLED applications.

In the metal salt MX₂L_(n), M is a second or third row transition metal in the +2 oxidation state, X is a halogen, L is a ligand coordinated to M selected from the group consisting of DMSO, THF, and CH₃CN, and n is 2 to 4. In one embodiment, M is ruthenium or osmium.

In one embodiment, the carbene forming agent is selected from silver oxide and copper(I) chloride. In one embodiment, the metal salt has the formula RuX₂(DMSO)₄. In one embodiment, the metal salt has the formula RuCl₂(DMSO)₄. In one embodiment, the metal salt has the formula OsX₂(DMSO)₄. In one embodiment, the metal salt has the formula RuCl₂(DMSO)₄.

In one embodiment, the solvent comprises a polar solvent. In one embodiment, the polar solvent comprises an alcohol. In one embodiment, the alcohol is selected from the group consisting of 2-methoxyethanol, 2-ethoxyethanol, and mixtures thereof. Polar solvents such as alcohols are desirable due to their capacity to effectively solvate polar species such as carbene precursors Q₁ and Q₂.

Rings A and B are independently selected from the group consisting of: (a) a 5-membered heterocyclic group, (b) an 8- to 12-membered bicyclic group having from 0 to 6 ring heteroatoms, (c) an 11- to 18-membered tricyclic group having from 0 to 7 ring heteroatoms, (d) an 11- to 14-membered fused tricyclic group having from 0 to 6 ring heteroatoms, and (e) an 14- to 18-membered fused tetracyclic group having from 0 to 7 ring heteroatoms. Ring A and/or ring B may form a salt, a is 0 to 4, and b is 0 to 4.

X¹ is selected from C—R¹ and N, X² is selected from C—R² and N, and X³ is selected from C—R³ and N.

In one aspect, R¹ and R², or R² and R³ are linked to form a 5- or 6-membered cyclic group, an 8- to 10-membered fused bicyclic group, an 11- to 14-membered fused tricyclic group, which may be optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from hydrogen, deuterium, halide, alkyl, cycloalkyl, heteroalkyl, arylalkyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, amino, silyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, heteroalkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, acyl, carbonyl, carboxylic acids, ester, nitrile, isonitrile, sulfanyl, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, phosphino, and combinations thereof;

In one aspect, R¹ and an R^(A) are linked to form a 5- or 6-membered cyclic group, or an 8- to 10-membered fused bicyclic group.

In one aspect, R³ and an R^(B) are linked to form a 5- or 6-membered cyclic group, or an 8- to 10-membered fused bicyclic group.

The groups R^(A), R^(B), R¹, R², R³, and R′ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, deuterium, halide, alkyl, cycloalkyl, heteroalkyl, arylalkyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, amino, silyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, heteroalkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, acyl, carbonyl, carboxylic acids, ester, nitrile, isonitrile, sulfanyl, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, phosphino, and combinations thereof.

In one aspect, the precursors of carbenes Q₁ and Q₂ are independently selected from a compound of formula III:

In the compound of formula III, the dashed line represents an optional bond, X⁴ is selected from N—R′, O, and S, X⁵ is selected from N—R′, O, and S, and A is a counterion.

Specific, non-limiting examples of carbene precursors are provided. In one aspect, the carbene precursors are selected from the group consisting of Compound 1-Compound 74.

In one embodiment, the precursors of carbenes Q₁ and Q₂ are independently selected from the group consisting of:

Also provided are ruthenium carbene complexes selected from the group consisting of:

Combination with Other Materials

The materials described herein as useful for a particular layer in an organic light emitting device may be used in combination with a wide variety of other materials present in the device. For example, emissive dopants disclosed herein may be used in conjunction with a wide variety of hosts, transport layers, blocking layers, injection layers, electrodes and other layers that may be present. The materials described or referred to below are non-limiting examples of materials that may be useful in combination with the compounds disclosed herein, and one of skill in the art can readily consult the literature to identify other materials that may be useful in combination.

HIL/HTL:

A hole injecting/transporting material to be used in some embodiments of the present invention is not particularly limited, and any compound may be used as long as the compound is typically used as a hole injecting/transporting material. Examples of the material may include, but are not limited to: a phthalocyanine or porphryin derivative; an aromatic amine derivative; an indolocarbazole derivative; a polymer containing fluorohydrocarbon; a polymer with conductivity dopants; a conducting polymer, such as PEDOT/PSS; a self-assembly monomer derived from compounds such as phosphonic acid and sliane derivatives; a metal oxide derivative, such as MoO_(x); a p-type semiconducting organic compound, such as 1,4,5,8,9,12-Hexaazatriphenylenehexacarbonitrile; a metal complex, and a cross-linkable compounds.

Examples of aromatic amine derivatives used in HIL or HTL may include, but are not limited to, the following general structures:

Each of Ar¹ to Ar⁹ is selected from the group consisting aromatic hydrocarbon cyclic compounds such as benzene, biphenyl, triphenyl, triphenylene, naphthalene, anthracene, phenalene, phenanthrene, fluorene, pyrene, chrysene, perylene, azulene; group consisting aromatic heterocyclic compounds such as dibenzothiophene, dibenzofuran, dibenzoselenophene, furan, thiophene, benzofuran, benzothiophene, benzoselenophene, carbazole, indolocarbazole, pyridylindole, pyrrolodipyridine, pyrazole, imidazole, triazole, oxazole, thiazole, oxadiazole, oxatriazole, dioxazole, thiadiazole, pyridine, pyridazine, pyrimidine, pyrazine, triazine, oxazine, oxathiazine, oxadiazine, indole, benzimidazole, indazole, indoxazine, benzoxazole, benzisoxazole, benzothiazole, quinoline, isoquinoline, cinnoline, quinazoline, quinoxaline, naphthyridine, phthalazine, pteridine, xanthene, acridine, phenazine, phenothiazine, phenoxazine, benzofuropyridine, furodipyridine, benzothienopyridine, thienodipyridine, benzoselenophenopyridine, and selenophenodipyridine; and group consisting 2 to 10 cyclic structural units which are groups of the same type or different types selected from the aromatic hydrocarbon cyclic group and the aromatic heterocyclic group and are bonded to each other directly or via at least one of oxygen atom, nitrogen atom, sulfur atom, silicon atom, phosphorus atom, boron atom, chain structural unit and the aliphatic cyclic group. Each Ar is further substituted by a substituent selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, deuterium, halide, alkyl, cycloalkyl, heteroalkyl, arylalkyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, amino, silyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, heteroalkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, acyl, carbonyl, carboxylic acids, ester, nitrile, isonitrile, sulfanyl, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, phosphino, and combinations thereof.

In one aspect, Ar¹ to Ar⁹ is independently selected from the group consisting of:

k is an integer from 1 to 20; X¹ to X⁸ is CH or N; Ar¹ has the same group defined above.

Examples of metal complexes that may used in HIL or HTL include, but are not limited to, the following general formula:

M is a metal having an atomic weight greater than 40; (Y¹—Y²) is a bidentate ligand, Y¹ and Y² are independently selected from C, N, O, P, and S; L is an ancillary ligand; m is an integer value from 1 to the maximum number of ligands that may be attached to the metal; and m+n is the maximum number of ligands that may be attached to the metal.

In one aspect, (Y¹—Y²) is a 2-phenylpyridine derivative.

In one aspect, (Y¹—Y²) is a carbene ligand.

In one aspect, M is selected from Ir, Pt, Os, and Zn.

In a further aspect, the metal complex has a smallest oxidation potential in solution vs. Fc⁺/Fc couple less than about 0.6 V.

Host:

The light emitting layer of the organic EL device in some embodiments of the present invention preferably contains at least a metal complex as light emitting material, and may contain a host material using the metal complex as a dopant material. Examples of the host material are not particularly limited, and any metal complexes or organic compounds may be used as long as the triplet energy of the host is larger than that of the dopant.

Examples of metal complexes used as host materials are preferred to have the following general formula:

M is a metal; (Y³—Y⁴) is a bidentate ligand, Y³ and Y⁴ are independently selected from C, N, O, P, and S; L is an ancillary ligand; m is an integer value from 1 to the maximum number of ligands that may be attached to the metal; and m+n is the maximum number of ligands that may be attached to the metal.

In one aspect, the metal complexes are:

(O—N) is a bidentate ligand, having metal coordinated to atoms O and N.

In one aspect, M is selected from Ir and Pt.

In a further aspect, (Y³—Y⁴) is a carbene ligand.

Examples of organic compounds used as host materials include materials selected from the group consisting of: aromatic hydrocarbon cyclic compounds such as benzene, biphenyl, triphenyl, triphenylene, naphthalene, anthracene, phenalene, phenanthrene, fluorene, pyrene, chrysene, perylene, azulene; group consisting aromatic heterocyclic compounds such as dibenzothiophene, dibenzofuran, dibenzoselenophene, furan, thiophene, benzofuran, benzothiophene, benzoselenophene, carbazole, indolocarbazole, pyridylindole, pyrrolodipyridine, pyrazole, imidazole, triazole, oxazole, thiazole, oxadiazole, oxatriazole, dioxazole, thiadiazole, pyridine, pyridazine, pyrimidine, pyrazine, triazine, oxazine, oxathiazine, oxadiazine, indole, benzimidazole, indazole, indoxazine, benzoxazole, benzisoxazole, benzothiazole, quinoline, isoquinoline, cinnoline, quinazoline, quinoxaline, naphthyridine, phthalazine, pteridine, xanthene, acridine, phenazine, phenothiazine, phenoxazine, benzofuropyridine, furodipyridine, benzothienopyridine, thienodipyridine, benzoselenophenopyridine, and selenophenodipyridine; and group consisting 2 to 10 cyclic structural units which are groups of the same type or different types selected from the aromatic hydrocarbon cyclic group and the aromatic heterocyclic group and are bonded to each other directly or via at least one of oxygen atom, nitrogen atom, sulfur atom, silicon atom, phosphorus atom, boron atom, chain structural unit and the aliphatic cyclic group. Each group is further substituted by a substituent selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, deuterium, halide, alkyl, cycloalkyl, heteroalkyl, arylalkyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, amino, silyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, heteroalkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, acyl, carbonyl, carboxylic acids, ester, nitrile, isonitrile, sulfanyl, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, phosphino, and combinations thereof.

In one aspect, the host compound contains at least one of the following groups in the molecule:

R¹ to R⁷ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, deuterium, halide, alkyl, cycloalkyl, heteroalkyl, arylalkyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, amino, silyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, heteroalkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, acyl, carbonyl, carboxylic acids, ester, nitrile, isonitrile, sulfanyl, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, phosphino, and combinations thereof, when it is aryl or heteroaryl, it has the similar definition as Ar's mentioned above.

k is an integer from 0 to 20.

X¹ to X⁸ is selected from CH or N.

HBL:

A hole blocking layer (HBL) may be used to reduce the number of holes and/or excitons that leave the emissive layer. The presence of such a blocking layer in a device may result in substantially higher efficiencies as compared to a similar device lacking a blocking layer. Also, a blocking layer may be used to confine emission to a desired region of an OLED.

In one aspect, the compound used in the HBL contains the same molecule used as host described above.

In one aspect, the compound used in the HBL contains at least one of the following groups in the molecule:

k is an integer from 0 to 20; L is an ancillary ligand, m is an integer from 1 to 3.

ETL:

The electron transport layer (ETL) may include a material capable of transporting electrons. The electron transport layer may be intrinsic (undoped) or doped. Doping may be used to enhance conductivity. Examples of the ETL material are not particularly limited, and any metal complexes or organic compounds may be used as long as they are typically used to transport electrons.

In one aspect, the compound used in the ETL contains at least one of the following groups in the molecule:

R¹ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, deuterium, halide, alkyl, cycloalkyl, heteroalkyl, arylalkyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, amino, silyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, heteroalkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, acyl, carbonyl, carboxylic acids, ester, nitrile, isonitrile, sulfanyl, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, phosphino, and combinations thereof, it has the similar definition as Ar's mentioned above.

Ar¹ to Ar³ has the similar definition as Ar's mentioned above.

k is an integer from 0 to 20.

X¹ to X⁸ is selected from CH or N.

In one aspect, the metal complexes used in the ETL may contain, but are not limit to, the following general formula:

(O—N) or (N—N) is a bidentate ligand, having metal coordinated to atoms O, N or N,N; L is an ancillary ligand; m is an integer value from 1 to the maximum number of ligands that may be attached to the metal.

In any above-mentioned compounds used in each layer of OLED device, the hydrogen atoms can be partially or fully deuterated.

In addition to and/or in combination with the materials disclosed herein, many hole injection materials, hole transporting materials, host materials, dopant materials, exiton/hole blocking layer materials, electron transporting and electron injecting materials may be used in an OLED. Non-limiting examples of the materials that may be used in an OLED in combination with materials disclosed herein are listed in Table 2 below. Table 2 lists non-limiting classes of materials, non-limiting examples of compounds for each class, and references that disclose the materials.

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EXPERIMENTAL

Chemical abbreviations used throughout this document are as follows: DMF is dimethylformamide, Et₃N is triethylamine, PPh₃ is tripheynylphosphine, P(i-Pr)₃ is triisopropylphosphine, EtOAc is ethyl acetate, THF is tetrahydrofuran, DMSO is dimethylsulfoxide, DCM is dichloromethane.

Example 1 Synthesis of Ruthenium Complex of Compound 33 Synthesis of 1,3-bis(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl)benzene

In a 1 L round-bottomed flask 1,3-diiodobenzene (26.43 g, 80 mmol), 1H-benzo[d]imidazole (20.82 g, 176 mmol), and 1,10-phenanthroline (5.77 g, 32.0 mmol), CuI (3.05 g, 16 mmol), and cesium carbonate (120 g, 369 mmol) were combined in anhydrous DMF (350 mL) to give a brown suspension. The reaction was purged with N₂ for 20 minutes and then heated to reflux for 24 hours. The reaction mixture was passed thought a plug of silica gel (5% MeOH in DCM) to obtain the crude product. The crude product was subjected to silica gel chromatography (SiO₂, 400 g, 2% MeOH to 5% MeOH in DCM) to ultimately obtain the final product (12.66 g, 51%).

Synthesis of 3,3′-(1,3-phenylene)bis(1-iodo-1-methyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-1-ium-2-ide) [Compound 33]

In a 1 L round bottom flask, 1,3-bis(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl)benzene (12.66 g, 40.8 mmol), iodomethane (25.5 mL, 408 mmol) were combined in DMF (500 mL) to give a yellow solution. The reaction mixture was heated to 42° C. for 24 hours and filtered to get the product (21.69 g, 89%).

Synthesis of Ruthenium Complex of Compound 33

A 1 L round-bottomed flask was charged with RuCl₂(DMSO)₄ (2 g, 4.13 mmol), carbene ligand precursor compound 33 (7.36 g, 12.38 mmol), silver(I) oxide (5.74 g, 24.77 mmol) and 2-ethoxyethanol (400 mL) to give a tan suspension. The reaction mixture was vacuum evacuated, backfilled with N₂ and heated to reflux for 1 hour. The reaction mixture was filtered and the filtrate was evaporated to dryness. The residue obtained after evaporation was subjected to column chromatography (SiO₂, pretreated with Et₃N, 50% DCM in hexanes) to yield the ruthenium complex of compound 1 (1070 mg, 33%).

Synthesis of 1,3-bis(3H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-3-yl)benzene

A 500 mL round-bottomed flask was charged with 1H-imidazo[4,5,-b]pyridine (12.7 g, 107 mmol), 1,3-diiodobenzene (17.65 g, 53.5 mmol), copper (I) oxide (0.176 g, 1.231 mmol), 4,7-dimethoxy-1,10-phenanthroline (0.591 g, 2.46 mmol), cesium carbonate (48.8 g, 150 mmol), polyethylene glycol (9.79 g, D=1.088, 9 mL) and DMSO (125 mL) The reaction mixture was vacuum evacuated and back filled with N₂ three times. The reaction mixture was heated to 110° C. for 24 hours. The reaction mixture was decanted into water (500 mL) and filtered. The precipitate was collected subjected to column chromatography (SiO₂, 5% MeOH in DCM) to yield the desired product (6 g, 36%).

Synthesis of Ruthenium Complex of Compound 53

A 1 L round-bottomed flask was charged with carbene precursor compound 53 (2.98 g, 4.99 mmol), Ag₂O (2.31 g, 9.99 mmol) and 2-ethoxyethanol (390 mL) The reaction mixture was vacuum evacuated and back filled with N₂ three times. The reaction mixture was heated to 40° C. for 1 hour. The Ru precursor (1.1 g, 2.27 mmol) was then added and the reaction mixture was refluxed for 1 hour. The reaction mixture was filtered and the filtrate was evaporated to dryness. The residue obtained after evaporation was subjected to column (SiO₂, pretreated with Et₃N, 70% DCM in hexanes) to yield the title complex (0.82 g, 46%).

Synthesis of OsCl₂(DMSO)₄

An aqueous solution of [NH₄]₂[OsCl₆] (1 g, 2.278 mmol) was passed through a cation exchange column in the protic form, eluted with water, after which the solvent was removed from the eluate using a rotatory evaporator. The residue was transferred to a Schlenk tube as a solution in methanol and the solvent removed in vacuo. The resulting red-black residue was dissolved in DMSO (5 mL), and 5 nCl₂.2H₂O (0.8 g, 3.55 mmol) was added and the mixture was stirred under N₂ for 1 hour at 150° C. The DMSO was removed by vacuum distillation. 20 mL of DCM was added into the residue and the suspension was filtered through celite. The filtrate was concentrated and washed with acetone to yield the desired compound (0.7 g, 53.6%)

Synthesis of OsCl₂(PPh₃)₃

(NH₄)₂OSCl₆+PPh₃→Oscl₂(PPh₃)₃

(NH₄)₂OsCl₆ (2.57 g, 5.85 mmol) and PPh₃ (10.82 g, 41.2 mmol) were refluxed under nitrogen for 20 hours in a solvent mixture composed of 385 mL tert-butyl alcohol and 154 mL water. After cooling to room temperature, the pale green solid was filtered, washed with water, methanol, and hexanes. The solid was dried under vacuum to yield the desired product (5.65 g, 92%).

Synthesis of OsH₆(P(i-Pr)₃)₂ Step 1

OsCl₃+P(i-Pr)₃→OsH₂Cl₂(P(i-Pr)₃)₂

A suspension of OsCl₃ (3.79 g, 12.77 mmol) in 40 mL of 2-propanol was treated with P(i-Pr)₃ (12 g, 90% purity, 67.4 mmol) and heated for 24 hours under reflux. After the mixture was cooled to room temperature, a brown-yellow precipitate was formed, which was filtered off, and repeatedly washed with methanol and ether, and dried in vacuo to yield OsH₂Cl₂(P(i-Pr)₃)₂ (2.11 g, 28.3%)

Step 2

A solution of OsH₂Cl₂(P(i-Pr)₃)₂ in 180 mL of toluene was first treated with NaBH₄ (1.737 g, 45.9 mmol) and then dropwise with 5 mL of methanol. After the reaction mixture was stirred for 30 minutes at room temperature, the solution was filtered. The filtrate was concentrated to ca 0.5 mL in vacuo, and 10 mL of methanol was added. The solution was again concentrated until a white precipitate separated and then stored at −78° C. for 2 hours. The white precipitate was filtered off, washed with small amount of methanol, and dried in vacuo: yield 0.37 g (15.6%).

Synthesis of [OsCl₂(benzene)]₂

A suspension of OsCl₃ (7.85 g, 26.5 mmol) in 100 mL of ethanol was treated with cyclohexa-1,3-diene (2.12 g, 26.5 mmol) and heated for 48 hours under reflux. The yellow precipitate was filtered off, washed with a small amount of methanol, and dried in vacuo: yield 7.26 g (81%).

Methods for Osmium Ligation Using Compound 35

Method A

A 250 mL round-bottomed flask was charged with OsCl₂(DMSO)₄ (250 mg, 0.436 mmol), tridentate carbene precursor compound 35 (721 mg, 1.089 mmol), and silver (I) oxide (505 mg, 2.179 mmol) in 2-ethoxyethanol (125 mL) to give a tan suspension. The reaction mixture was vacuum evacuated, back filled with N₂ and heated to reflux for 1 hour. The reaction mixture was filtered thought celite and the filtrate was subject to column chromatography (SiO₂, pretreated with Et₃N, 60% EtOAc in hexanes) to yield the desired compound (152 mg, 34%).

Method B

A 250 mL round-bottomed flask was charged with OsCl₂(PPh₃)₄ (250 mg, 0.436 mmol), tridentate carbene precursor compound 35 (721 mg, 1.089 mmol), and silver (I) oxide (505 mg, 2.179 mmol) in DMF (125 mL) to give a tan suspension. The reaction mixture was vacuum evacuated, back filled with N₂, and heated to reflux for 1 hour. The reaction mixture was filtered thought celite and the filtrate was subject to column chromatography (SiO₂, pretreated with Et₃N, 60% EtOAc in hexanes) to yield the desired compound (17 mg, 4%).

Method C

A 250 mL round-bottomed flask was charged with OsH₆((i-Pr)₃P)₂(150 mg, 0.29 mmol), tridentate carbene precursor compound 35 (404 mg, 0.61 mmol) and K₂CO₃ (401 mg, 2.9 mmol) in dioxane (100 mL) to give a tan suspension. The reaction mixture was vacuum evacuated, back filled with N₂ and heated to reflux for 7 hours. The reaction mixture was filtered thought celite and the filtrate was subject to column chromatography (SiO₂, pretreated with Et₃N, 30% DCM in hexanes) to yield desired compound (51 mg, 12%).

Method D

A 1 L round-bottomed flask was charged with silver (I) oxide (9.9 9 g, 43.1 mmol), tridentate carbene precursor compound 75 (11.84 g, 21.56 mmol) and DMF (700 mL). The reaction mixture was vacuum evacuated and back filled with N₂. It was stirred for 1 hour at room temperature. The reaction mixture was filtered thought celite and the filtrate was treated with [OsCl₂(benzene)]₂ (3.66 g, 5.39 mmol). The reaction mixture was heated to 120° C. for 2 hours. The DMF was then removed by vacuum distillation, and the residue was subjected to column chromatography (SiO₂, pretreated with Et₃N, EtOAc) to yield desired compound (334 mg, 4%).

It is understood that the various embodiments described herein are by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. For example, many of the materials and structures described herein may be substituted with other materials and structures without deviating from the spirit of the invention. The present invention as claimed may therefore includes variations from the particular examples and preferred embodiments described herein, as will be apparent to one of skill in the art. It is understood that various theories as to why the invention works are not intended to be limiting. 

1. A compound selected from the group consisting of:


2. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is


3. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is


4. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is


5. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is


6. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is


7. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is


8. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is


9. An organic light emitting device, comprising: an anode; a cathode; and an emissive layer, wherein the emissive layer comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of:


10. The organic light emitting device of claim 9, wherein said compound is


11. The organic light emitting device of claim 9, wherein said compound is


12. The organic light emitting device of claim 9, wherein said compound is


13. The organic light emitting device of claim 9, wherein said compound is


14. The organic light emitting device of claim 9, wherein said compound is


15. The organic light emitting device of claim 9, wherein said compound is


16. The organic light emitting device of claim 9, wherein said compound is


17. A formulation comprising a compound selected from the group consisting of: 